Snap-fastener for shoe-laces.



H. S. SHAFER.

SNAP PASTENBR. FOR SHOE LAGES.

' APPLICATION rum) MAR. 5, 190a.

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PATENT UFFICE.

HOWARD S. SHAFER, OF NAZARETH, PENNSYLVANIA.

SNAP-FASTENER FOR SHOE-LAGES.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HOWARD S. SI-IAFER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Nazareth, in the county of Northampton and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Snap-Fasteners for Shoe-Laces; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable Others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to fasteners for holding the ends of shoe laces to prevent the 1 same from becoming accidentally unfastened after the same have been fastened.

Another object is to provide a device of this kind by which the ends of the shoe laces may be easily fastened and unfastened and the fastening ends thereof be easily adjusted in regard to length.

For these and other objects which will appear hereinafter, my invention consists of certain novel arrangements and combinations of parts of which the hereimlescribed fastener is one of many possible embodiments.

In the annexed drawings forming a part of this specification in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views and which are for illustrative purposes only and therefore not drawn to any particular scale.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a shoe showing my fastener attached, the end of the shoe lace being fastened; Fig. 2 is a view of the opposite side of a shoe showing the fastener unfastened; Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the lace and adjusting means; Fig. i is a side elevation of the attaching means of the snap fastener; Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view of the fastener socket, and Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the ball of the fastener and a portion of the leather of the shoe; Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view produced through the attaching plate and buckle of the device.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, my fastener is shown as applied to the side 1 of the top of a shoe. The lace 2 of Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March *5,

Patented Feb. 16, 1909.

Serial No. 419,353.

said shoe is passed through the slot 3 of the attaching means 4 by means of which the fastener socket 5 is attached to the shoe lace 2, the shoe lace 2 being passed through said slot 3 is bent upon itself and fastened back upon itself by being passed through the slots (3 of the adjusting buckle 7, the buckle 7 being secured to said lace by said lace being passed through said slots. The socket 5 is secured in the hole 8 of the fastening means t by being outwardly flanged as at 9, the opening 10 of said socket may be made slightly elastic to receive the ball or head 11 of the fastener. Or if desired the head itself may be made elastic. The head 11 has an inwardly extending pin 12 by means of which said head is fastened to the leather 13 of the shoe top, said pin is held in place by the extending flanges 1 1 and 15 as will be easily understood.

The operation of my device is as follows: The shoe is laced up, in the usual manner, and the distance of the fastener from the end thereof is regulated by means of the buckle T; when the required length of lace has been produced, the socket 5 is snapped upon the ball 11 and the lace is held firmly in place in such a manner that it cannot be accidentally unfastened. l t'hen it is wished to unlacc the shoe the socket is easily removed from the ball 11 as is well known.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is In a shoe lace fastener, the combination with one element of a snap fastener pro vided with means for attaching it to the article to be secured, of an attaching plate having a complementary snap fastener and a transversely extending slot and a plate having spaced transversely extending slots for engagement with the lace to be secured.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

I-IOIVARD S. SI-IAFER. Vitnesses Ma'r'rrn M. VVOODRING, WILSON E. BECK. 

